Dandenong Journal(18 Aug 2015)

RD: I was remiss last week in not pointing to The Journal's 150th anniversary special edition. It was fantastic — it provides a really great historical context for both the paper and the city. I highly recommend checking it out.Read more...

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au(24 Jul 2015)

RD: Well, about time! (I think I'm justified in saying that after 8 years.) The levy was an interesting and risky idea when the Revitalising project kicked off. Interesting because it showed a lot of faith in the whole project. Risky because you put taxes (levies) on things you want to discourage (you know, things like emitting carbon). And you make people pay it up front when you really want to discourage something. That's the complete opposite of what (you would think) was desired here.

Economics 101 tells you that since the market was already setting the price of development, and development wasn't happening at that price (that was the whole point of revitalisation), adding a tax on top of things was only going to work if people thought the State Government's initiatives were so spectacularly brilliant that they would compensate for the tax and then some. Turns out nobody thought that. Developers did buy in initially, but underlying demand was weak — perhaps because most people who lived here viewed the revitalisation as intangible and unrealistic, and people who didn't live here didn't believe anything of interesting was going on here. All of which turned out to be self-fulfilling!

We learnt this information really early on, so the tax should have disappeared really early on. According to the article, it did disappear — for specific, government-linked clients. For everyone else, it didn't. Who knows how that cost us? Hopefully business manager Paul Kearsley, and hopefully he can communicate that well enough to the State Government to get this clearly perverse disincentive removed.Read more...

Updates

australiantenders.com(3 Dec 2015)

RD: The council has put out some kind of tender for more works at the Pultney Street intersection with Lonsdale Street. I have little idea what's involved, but it sounds like it may be another public space, according to this site: "Pultney Place / Triangle is a small urban space at the intersection of Lonsdale Street and Pultney Street, Dandenong. Pultney Triangle construction has been identified as a key project in Revitalising Central Dandenong urban Master Plan. As a result a design process was lead by Places Victoria..." (Don't click "more" on that page, because it will actually give you less.)

Some work was done in this area before — just to install Reverie, I think, the public art that can be seen in the image. Hopefully, this next stage of work is a bit more extensive.

premier.vic.gov.au(3 Dec 2015)

Dandenong will be home to Victoria’s first ever Indian Cultural Precinct, with the Andrews Labor Government further announcing a second Precinct in the works for Melbourne’s west. Read on premier.vic.gov.au →

RD: There will be two Indian precincts, one in Dandenong (which we should not forget already exists! ) and one in Wyndham. Each will get $500K (for now? for all time?), which I gather means the existence of two precincts has required a split in the total pool of $1M of funding.

This is neither good news nor bad news. On the positive side, Dandenong's organically evolved Little India won't be overshadowed by a government-driven initiative located elsewhere. On the other hand, it seems highly unlikely that any particularly extensive or useful changes will come out of this for the precinct, unless the funding amount increases substantially at some point. As things stand, much more is being spent on the Afghan precinct, and that unfolded without any hype and fanfare from the state government.

So, in the end, this announcement is no real announcement at all for Little India. In reality, it all depends on what actions the government actually takes to improve Little India. And if a large stream of government funding heads Wyndham's way in future, with no corresponding funding for Dandenong's precinct, we'll know that this was all just smoke and mirrors to avoid angering the Little India traders. But let's not be too cynical!

theage.com.au(29 Nov 2015)

Four more level crossings, at Sydenham, Dandenong South, Lyndhurst and Williamstown North, have been flagged for removal as Premier Daniel Andrews marked his first year in office. Read on theage.com.au →

RD: The crossings in this area are Abbotts Road and Thompsons Road. I believe the latter was already planned (but perhaps not committed) as part of the Thompsons Road duplication. Read more...

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au(28 Nov 2015)

RD: This is about the Princes Hwy, Springvale Rd junction of course. One of the ideas mentioned is a giant roundabout. While I'm sure it would involve lots of intelligent signalling and whatnot, this still sounds highly comical for such a huge intersection. Read more...

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au(28 Nov 2015)

Planning Minister Richard Wynne has stated he has no “appetite” to support Greater Dandenong’s desire for more than 400 hectares in Keysborough and Bangholme to be removed from the green wedge. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →

RD: This is a really bad idea. There may be some short term benefit to doing this, but absolutely no long term benefit. I would much prefer to see all of this land turned into high environmental quality green wedge land. Read more...

theaustralian.com.au(26 Nov 2015)

Property group Armada Funds Management, with the backing of a major Middle Eastern fund, is in the box seat to buy a sub-regional shopping centre in Dandenong, in outer Melbourne, from GPT Group for more than $200 million. Read on theaustralian.com.au →

RD: (Paywall alert! ) It looks to me as though Armada is focused mostly on asset management, and may not be very ambitious in terms of development, which would be disappointing. However, it's very hard to tell. Read more...

theage.com.au(22 Nov 2015)

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called on the Turnbull government to cough up half the cash for the $400 million Monash freeway upgrade that will see the road grow to 10 lanes. Read on theage.com.au →

RD: This looks to be only a couple of years away, and will happen at the same time as the level crossing removals. Read more...

theurbandeveloper.com(20 Nov 2015)

Quest Apartment Hotels has commenced construction on the $25m development of Quest Dandenong Central, part of Australia’s second largest renewal project – the $290m Revitalising Central Dandenong initiative. Read on theurbandeveloper.com →

RD: A progress update on Quest. No news or hints of anything new, but a reasonable recap.Read more...

greaterdandenong.com(14 Nov 2015)

Congratulations on the release of your latest game Melbourne Monopoly, it is sure to be a hit with local families this Christmas, however we noticed that Melbourne’s south east has not even rated a mention. Read on greaterdandenong.com →

RD: A very cute letter. Perhaps the south east didn't make it on to the board because we're not wealthy enough. To be honest, I think there's some truth in that, but it has nothing to do with questionable deals. Read more...

theurbandeveloper.com(11 Nov 2015)

The 2015 Victorian Awards for Planning Excellence have been announced, shining the limelight on projects in regional Victoria. Read on theurbandeveloper.com →

RD: Wonderful, an award for Harmony Square (or the Civic Centre, if that's not merely the old name for it). Now, I always thought regional referred to non-capital areas of Melbourne, but it also includes not just Dandenong, but the city of Melbourne as well. Read more...

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au(29 Oct 2015)

RD: I think 3 lanes each way would be a great help between the South Gippsland Freeway and Clyde Road, but I'm not at all sure about 5 lanes each way between that freeway and Eastlink. I figure if you're even contemplating 5 lanes each way, you've spectacularly messed up the urban design somewhere along the way, so it's a sign you need to have a rethink.

Incidentally, it looks like the capacity of a freeway lane is about 2300 cars per hour. (So, being very generous, maybe 4000 passengers per hour.) Not only do those cars have to come from and go to somewhere (thereby adding traffic at the sources and destinations, which of course won't get any capacity upgrades), the contrast with rail capacity is stark: improvements to the Dandenong Rail Line would allow for an extra 11,000 passengers per hour.

I seem to be a bit unusual in that I like roads (though clean and quiet cars need to happen ASAP), but as I said, once you're contemplating 5 lanes each way, it's time for a complete rethink.

gbla.com.au(27 Oct 2015)

RD: Some info and pictures of the parks in the Logis North estate from the landscape designers. These parks are looking quite nice. What caught my eye in these pictures, though, is the plan for the artificial hill in the south-west corner of the estate. I've seen it many times driving past, but had no idea what it was. Great to know it will be possible to climb it at some point, as I imagine it will have some decent views, particularly of the growing city. Read more...

refresh.planmelbourne.vic.gov.au(22 Oct 2015)

RD: This is an update to the existing Plan Melbourne that was released last year. Not a lot that (uniquely) affects Dandenong has changed. The main proposed change is that the "South" be dropped from the "Dandenong South Employment Cluster", so as to include employment opportunities within the Dandenong CBD. In theory, this could have a major impact — however, it's not clear to me what effect the "employment cluster" designation has on how things unfold. Read more...

estimateone.com(19 Oct 2015)

RD: Don't expect to find any information at the link (these tender sites are all very protective of their data). Anyway, Spectra has gone to tender! An important step on the way to it actually becoming a thing. Read more...

greaterdandenong.com(14 Oct 2015)

(See Section 2. 6.5) This report seeks approval to proceed with the demolition of the Stan Prior Sound Shell, the Bowls Club and the Kindergarten located at Dandenong Park.
Read on greaterdandenong.com →

RD: It's going to be very sad to see these go, particularly the sound shell, since my family had a connection with Stan Prior. I do think it's the right thing for the park, though. I really hope the new bridge, new performance area and creek remediation is done very soon (i.e. in the next budget cycle). Read more...

premier.vic.gov.au(14 Oct 2015)

Industry Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has turned the first sod for construction of a $135 million dollar global headquarters for Australia’s largest locally-owned pharmaceutical company in Dandenong south. Read on premier.vic.gov.au →

heraldsun.com.au(12 Oct 2015)

This may be John Bennie’s 40th year in local government, but it is the next four-and-a-half years which really excites the City of Greater Dandenong chief executive. Read on heraldsun.com.au →

RD: The article mentions that John Bennie believes the focus of revitalisation efforts needs to shift to the Springvale activity centre for the next four years. I worry that the revitalisation of Dandenong has yet to prove itself self-sustaining, evidenced by the lack of even a single major private project being completed within the city centre. As such, I believe it's a bit premature to be shifting focus. Read more...

79 Ann Street —

Regarding Dandenong: Places(12 Oct 2015)

domain.com.au(11 Oct 2015)

Developers pocketed more than $70 million in just 90 minutes in Glen Waverley on Saturday morning, as hundreds of buyers jostled inside a display suite for the chance to secure an off-the-plan apartment. Read on domain.com.au →

RD: Apartment developments take minutes to sell in Glen Waverley and forever to sell in Dandenong. Both make little sense. Read more...

thecourier.com.au(18 Sep 2015)

A project that would replace 3500 container trucks a day with just 28 freight trains, potentially halving port-based truck traffic and slashing pollution levels from heavy vehicles, has been shelved by the Andrews government until it leases Melbourne's port. Read on thecourier.com.au →

RD: Not liking much of the Andrews government's approach to things that affect us so far. Read more...

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au(10 Sep 2015)

Opposition leader Matthew Guy has slammed the State Government for looking outside of Little India in Dandenong to establish the state’s premier Indian precinct. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →

RD: No disagreement here. Little India is woven tightly into Dandenong's identity. I can only hope the government doesn't decide to strip our identity apart. Read more...

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au(4 Sep 2015)

RD: I'm always puzzled by these kinds of planning failures. I imagine it's either due to an area falling through the gaps, or more cynically, a more deliberate consequence of an inappropriate prioritisation of funding. Read more...

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au(4 Sep 2015)

RD: I'm hoping this can be rolled out everywhere in the CBD, with each street being branded more strongly. I'd particularly like to see Lonsdale Street being branded more strongly than it currently is. Read more...

greaterdandenong.com(4 Sep 2015)

Australia Post is celebrating three heritage-listed iconic signs from the golden age of neon advertising in Australia with the release of a new stamp issue, which features Dandenong's iconic Dandy Pig.

219 Thomas Street (Spectra) —

Regarding Dandenong: Places(25 Aug 2015)

Again, realestate. com.au ad with 20 storeys, this time with picture of facade. (But facade is only 17 storeys.)

3 MacPherson Street —

Regarding Dandenong: Places(23 Aug 2015)

greaterdandenong.com(22 Aug 2015)

(See Section 2. 6.1) The aims of the [Community Safety Plan] are to improve actual safety, community perceptions of safety and reduce the risks of crime and anti-social behaviour. Read on greaterdandenong.com →

RD: It's very important to get this right, because I suspect that this more than anything else at the moment is impeding the city's ability to make progress. Read more...

greaterdandenong.com(22 Aug 2015)

(See Section 2. 6.5) As part of the process to implement a rate capping and variation framework, the Essential Services Commission (ESC) committed to a two stage consultation process. Read on greaterdandenong.com →

RD: Thankfully, the proposed cap is not entirely based on CPI (60/40 CPI/wage index), but it's still awfully silly. Read more...

urban.melbourne(21 Aug 2015)

There are a few outstanding metropolitan strategic planning issues that need to be sorted before any Government commits to expanding the Dandenong rail corridor over and beyond already announced projects. Read on urban.melbourne →

RD: I don't expect quadruplication any time soon, regardless of which form it takes, or which government is in power. At best I think we can hope that the level crossings removal program makes it easy to lay the extra tracks when needed.Read more...

Dandenong Journal(18 Aug 2015)

RD: I was remiss last week in not pointing to The Journal's 150th anniversary special edition. It was fantastic — it provides a really great historical context for both the paper and the city. I highly recommend checking it out.Read more...

RD: Apparently, Spectra just got a little bit more ambitious. It's now 108 apartments (up from 96) and 20 storeys (up from 17). I assume the basic external design will remain the same, but perhaps tellingly, there's no pic of it here.Read more...

mpnews.com.au(18 Aug 2015)

Councils have decided there is strength in numbers with the launch of a South East Melbourne Group of Councils regional plan to push the region’s case for business investment, jobs and more education opportunities. Read on mpnews.com.au →

RD: It's good to see some coordination amongst the councils in the south east. Read more...

22 Wilma Ave —

Regarding Dandenong: Places(14 Aug 2015)

Apartments for sale on 22 Wilma Ave. Pretty straightforward design based on the sketch, but that can often work out OK.

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au(12 Aug 2015)

RD: Interesting move, though this kind of decision was flagged a little while back. In some sense, this is an example of shooting ourselves in the foot — the extra activity in that area would be fantastic. But, if the health implications of Shisha are as indicated (I'm not at all familiar with it), then it's the right decision.Read more...

urban.melbourne(11 Aug 2015)

A construction tender is now open for Bunjil Place, City of Casey's initiative to create "A unique cultural, community and civic facility that will be a centerpiece for Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs". Read on urban.melbourne →

RD: Still undecided if this is good or bad for Dandenong. What I do know is that it's been done without considering the context of the region.Read more...

dandenong.starcommunity.com.au(3 Aug 2015)

RD: It's also a community that's moved to Estate One from the Dandenong CBD. In the short term, Estate One seems to be competition for the town centre, but hopefully over the (not too much) longer term it will be an asset.Read more...